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Mariners agree to one-year deal with RHP Josh Kinney

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Press Release

SEATTLE, Wash. -- -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik tonight announced that the Mariners have agreed to a 2013 Major League contract with right-handed pitcher Josh Kinney. The club also tendered 2013 contracts to catcher John Jaso, right-handed pitcher Shawn Kelley, shortstop Brendan Ryan and left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas. Infielder Robert Andino was non-tendered.

Andino is now a free agent and may negotiate with any of the 30 Major League teams, including Seattle. With these transactions, the Mariners 40-man roster is now at 39 players.

Major League clubs had to make contract offers (“tender”) to every player on their 40-man roster who is not already signed for the 2013 season by Nov. 30 at 9 pm (PDT). The four Mariners players who are arbitration eligible and were tendered contracts may either agree to a contract or advance to arbitration proceedings with the club.

Andino, 28, hit .211 (81x384) with 41 runs, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 28 RBI in 127 games for Baltimore in 2012. He appeared games at second base (108 G/96 GS), third base 15 G/9 GS, shortstop (2 G/GS) and one game each in left field and center field.

Jaso, 29, appeared in 108 games, making 83 starts (DH-44, C-39) while hitting .276 (81x294) with 41 runs, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 56 walks, .394 OBP, .456 SLG, .850 OPS. He was honored as Mariners Unsung Hero by the Seattle Chapter of the BBWAA, after leading the team in batting average, on-base%, slugging% and OPS.

Kelley, 28, posted a 3.25 ERA (16 ER, 44.1 IP) in 47 appearances over three stints with the Mariners; Opening Day-April 3, May 5-Aug. 15, Sept. 4-end of season. He averaged 9.13 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (45 K, 44.1 IP) and had at least one strikeout in 28 of 47 appearances (2+ strikeouts in 11 G). He also made 14 appearances for AAA Tacoma, going 2-0 with 6 saves and a 0.90 ERA (2 ER, 20.0 IP).

Kinney, 33, went 0-3 with 1 save and a 3.94 ERA (14 ER, 32.0 IP) in 35 relief appearances with Seattle. He tied for team lead (with Tom Wilhelmsen) with 35 appearances from the time of his season debut (7/3). He finished 2nd on the team with 9 holds, including 7 over his last 15 appearances of the season while averaging 10.12 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (36 K, 32.0 IP), striking out over 1/4 of batters faced (36 of 136). He began the season with AAA Tacoma going 1-0, 2.70 ERA (11 ER, 36.2 IP) with 38 strikeouts over 27 relief appearances.

Ryan, 30, appeared in 141 games, making 134 starts at shortstop. He hit .194 (79x407) with 42 runs, 19 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 31 RBI, 44 walks and 11 steals. He set or tied career-highs in games (141), doubles (tied, 19), walks (44) and strikeouts (98). He finished 2nd in ESPN.com’s Defensive Player of the Year voting behind LAA’s Mike Trout and led MLB shortstops with 27 defensive runs saved (according to FanGraphs.com) and highest UZR (ultimate zone rating) at 14.7.

Vargas, 29, ranked amongst AL leaders in games started (33, T4th), quality starts (4th, 22), innings pitched (6th, 217.1), WHIP (10th, 1.178) and complete games (T10th, 2). He led the Mariners in wins going 14-11 while setting career-highs in starts (33, old was 32 in ‘11), innings pitched (217.1, old was 201.0 in ‘11), strikeouts (141, old was 131 in ‘11) and quality starts (22, old was 21 in ‘10). Vargas is the first Mariners left-handed pitcher to win 14 or more games since Jamie Moyer in 2003.